Display panel rack



March 7, 1967 J. L.. WRIGHT 3,307,707

DISPLAY PANEL RACK Filed March 15, 1965 ee ses` 63 O se,

. e? FIGB F|G.9 FIG.IO

INVENTOR.

JULIAN L. WRIGHT uftorney United States Patent O `a,307,7o7 DISPLAY PANEL RACK Julian L. Wright, 4205 Princeton Ave., Greensboro, N.C. 27407 Filed Mar. 15, 1965, Ser. No. 439,658 11 Claims. (Cl. 211-13) 'Ihis invention relates to a display rack :for supporting a panel and relates more particularly to an improved display lixture for exhibiting merchandise in store windows, showrooms, art galleries and other places of exhibition.

It has been ditcult heretofore to support relatively large surfaces whether planar or curvilinear in store windows without constructing, at considerable expense, costly framework. Frequently `the framework must be removed when a display is of a temporary nature and new or modified framing will be required for supporting panels os display boards of a diiferent size or conliguration. Not onlyv is the fabrication of the framework costly but the framing must be discarded usually in the event 'there is insuflicient storage room to accommodate the framing for future utilization. The labor required to install and remove the framing may not Ibe available when changes or modications are desired thereby res-ulting in delays and inconvenience to the decorator or exhibitor.

Therefore, it is an objective of this invention to provide a display fixture for supporting decorative as well as exhibiting panels on which articles to be viewed may be mounted or the panels may be used to screen or partition floor areas for exhibition.

Another objective of this invention is the provision of a compact, adjustable and portable display rack -or fixture capable of supporting a relatively large panel whether rectilinear or curvilinear.

Still another objective of this invention is to provide a panel-supporting easel or rack having vertically spacedapart panel-supporting rails that are vertically adjustable to accommodate different height panels.

A further objective of this invention is to provide a display panel rack having a stabilized base for preventing panel forward tilting.

Other objectives and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily apparent from thefollowing detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which like characters ofrrefer'ence designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. l is a front perspective View of one embodiment of the display panel rack of this invention with portions yremoved and a display panel shown in outline form only;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation view of FIG. l with portions removed and other portions shown in section, and the various elements shown in disassembled orientation or exploded;

, FIG. 3 is an end elevational view with portions removed illustrating a modified embodiment of a display panel rack for supporting back to back panels;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the upper panel-supporting rail of FIGS. l and 2;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view only of the upper panelsupporting rails of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a front IperspectiveviewV of a pair of display lixtures for supporting curvilinear panels to vform a substantially oval, circular `or elliptical enclosure;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational schematic view of a pair of display fixtures supporting a plurality of panels shown in outline form;

FIG. 8 is a top schematic plan illustrating, the use of a pair of fixtures having curvilinear panel-supporting rails to form a S-wall;

FIG. 9 is a top schematic View of a pair of display xtures having curvilinear tracks to form `a circular or substantially cylindrical chamber; and

3,307,707 Patented Mar. 7, 1967 ICC FIG. 10 is a top schematic diagram of a further orientation of four fixtures to form a substantially diamond or fluted configuration.

Referring to the drawing and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the display fixture 20 in which the U-shaped channel base 21 will engage the lioor or other flat surface and slidably retain therein the stabilizing bar 22 to which forward end is aflixed the ldownwardly extending floor-engaging lug 23. The inner end 24 of 4rod 22 is provided with lan upwardly extending lug 25 for limiting forward displacement of rod 22 by engaging with the stanchion supporting plate 26 that is securely fastened to a lower plate 27 that is mounted and secured to the yU-shaped base 21. Plate 26 is secured to the plate 27 by means of the fastening bolts 28 that are threadably secured to the plate 27. A vertically extending stanchion or tubular housing 29 is securely fastened at the lower end 30 to the upper plate 26.

A iirst or lower panel supporting U-shaped rail 32 extends transversely over the base 21 and is secured t-o the lower plate 27 by means of the fastening bolt or bolts 33 that are threadably received in the plate 27. The depth and width of the channel 34 in the lpanel-supporting rail 32 may vary depending upon the thickness and the weight of the panel to be supported therein. Thumb' screws 35 are threadably secured along one side of the panel-supporting rail 32 for releasably clamping a panel 36 in the channel 34.

The vertically extending stanchi-on or tulbular housing 29 cooperatively receives for slidable telescoping movement therein the rod member 37 which is vertically adjustable and releasably clamped in position in the tubular housing 29 by means of the thumb screw 38 threadably retained at the upper end of the stanchion 29. The upper terminal end 39 of the rod 37 is provided with a cap 40y for threadably receiving the bolt 41 which will secure the angle Ibracket 42 in position at the top of the rod 39. A second or upper panel-supporting U-shaped rail 43 is securely fastened as by welding or other suitable means in an inverted position cooperatively to receive and support in the channel `44 the upper end of the panel 36 as shown in FIG. l. spaced-apart thumb screws are threadably secured in the upper panel-supporting rail 43 as more clearly shown in FIG. 4.

The vertical displacement between the lower `and upper panel-supporting rails 32 and 43 will vary depending upon the height of the individual panel 36, Aand in some instances a plurality of telescoping tubes may be employed instead of the single rod 37 depending upon thel desired extension. In those instances where the panel will support articles mounted thereon, the forwardly extending rod 22 may be withdrawn to the desired extent with the forward ber' to assure against forward tilting or shifting of the panel and display fixture.

A modilied embodiment of the display fixture is shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 with the base 21, the vforwardly extending rod 22 and the lower and upper plates 26 and 27 being substantially the same as shown in FIGS. l and 2. Also, the stanchion 29 and rOd 37 together with the upper and lower panel-supporting r-ails 43 and 32 being substantially the same as shown and described for FIGS. l and 2. The modified embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 include a U-shaped spacer member 50 securely mounted by means of bolts 51 on the rod plate 40. A second upper panel-supporting U-shaped rail 52 is securely fastened to the opposite side of spacer member 50 from the first upper panel-supporting rail 43 and preferably at the same level or height. A second lower panel-supporting U-shaped rail 50 is securely fastened at the top of and extends transversely across the upper plate 26 and parallel to the other lower panel-supporting rail 32. Panel-supporting thumb screws 54 are threadably received in the second upper rail 52, and similarly, the second lower rail 53 is provided with spaced-apart thumb screws (not shown). In the modified embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, two separate panels or partitions may be supported on the same display fixture for separating or partitioning compartments such as in a window display or room exhibit. It is desirable that short depending leg members 5S he provided not only on the forward or first rail 32 but also on the rear or second lower rail 53 for increased stability.

In FIG. 7 there is illustrated schematically two separate display panel fixtures that are spaced laterally from each other and supporting three separate panels 36 with the end panels abutting a single middle panel to form a substantially extensive rectilinear wall.

In each of the embodiments referred to heretofore, the panel-supporting rails are rectilinear for supporting a planar surface, A further modication of the display lixture is illustrated in FIG. 6 in which the base 56 is substantially identical to the base 21 including the slidable rod 22 and the vertical stanchion 57 with the telescoping rod 58 being substantially the same as that employed in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, however, the thumb screws for supporting the rods 58 have been omitted but are actually used in practice. The lower arcuate U-shaped panel-supporting rail 59 is also provided with depending and stabilizing legs 60 with the intermediate portion 61 of the arcuate rail 59 being secured to the forward portion of the base whereas the right fixture has its U-shaped arcuate panel-supporting rail 62 mounted to the opposite side of the stanchion on the base 56. Suitable thumb screws may also be provided although not shown to retain the `arcuate panel in position on the lower arcuate rails 59 and 62. In the display fixture at the left in FIG. 6, the upper arcuate rail 63 complements the lower rail 59 for receiving a curved panel in the panelreceiving recesses 64 and 65 with the rail 63 being secured along the outer perimeter to the rod 58. The upper panelreceiving and supporting rail 66 in the right embodiment of FIG. 6, is received and supported to the rod 58 on the inner periphery of the rail 66. Suitable thumb screws for supporting the panels in the arcuate rails are provided but not shown for either the upper or lower rails in FIG. 6.

In FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 various combin-ations of the arcuate rails are illustrated with the diagrammatic illustration in FIG. 8 depicting a sinuous pattern, FIG. 9 illustrating a circular or cylindrical unit with both FIGS. 8 and 9 utilizing two single display panel fixtures. In FIG. l0, four separate display fixtures are utilized with each yof the arcuate rails 67 being less than a semicircle.

It will be readily apparent that the various elements including the panel-supporting `rails need not necessarily be U-shaped in cross section and a semicircular rail may be utilized or other cross sections that provide uniform and continuous support for the base of a panel. Also, in the embodiments illustrated, in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the various components may be disassembled readily for facility of packaging, storage and shipment. However, the various members may be welded or otherwise securely fastened.

Many modifications may be made in each of the elements or components without departing from the purpose and spirit of this invention and such modications are contemplated within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A display rack for panels comprising; a base, a rod slidably positioned in said base to extend said base for stabilization, a panel-supporting lower rail secured to and extending across said base, a vertical column having telescoping nestable members mounted on said base with means for releasably clamping the telescoping members to a desired extension, and a panel-supporting upper rail secured to one of said telescoping nestable members, each of said panel-supporting rails having means for releasably supporting a panel.

2. A display rack for supporting panels as claimed in claim 1 wherein said panel-supporting rails are rectilinear.

3. A display rack for panels as claimed in claim 1 and wherein said panel-supporting rails are curvilinear.

4. A display rack for panels as claimed in claim 1 and wherein said panel-supporting rails each have a U-shaped cross section.

5. A knockdown display rack for supporting a panel comprising; a base, a panel-supporting lower rail secured to and extending across said base, a vertical column having telescoping nestable members mounted on said base with means for releasably clamping the telescoping member to a desired extension, and a panel-supporting upper rail secured to a telescoping nestable member, each of said panel-supporting rails having means for releasabl supporting a panel.

6. A display rack for-panels as claimed in claim 5 wherein said panel-supporting rails are rectilinear.

7. A display rack for panels as claimed in claim 5 and wherein said panel-supporting rails are curvilinear.

8. A display rack for panels as claimed in claim 5 and wherein said panel-supporting rails each have a U-shaped cross section.

9. A display rack for supporting a panel as claimed in claim 8 wherein said panel-supporting rails are rectilinear.

10. A display rack for supporting a panel as claimed in claim 8 and wherein said panel-supporting rails are curvilinear.

11. A panel display and supporting device comprising a ystanchion base having a U-shaped rail, a stanchion stabilizing rod slidably retained in said r-ail between limits, a lower U-shaped panel-supporting track for supporting a panel therein mounted on said base rail adjacent said stanchion base, said panel-supporting track having spacedapart ground-engaging stabilizing members, a tubular stanchion vertically supported on said stanchion base, a rod telescopically slidable in said tubular stanchion, means on said stanchion for releasably clamping said nod atl the desired elevation, a second U-shaped panel-supporting track mounted on said rod for supporting the top of a panel therein, and releasable panel clamping means on said panel-supporting tracks.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 420,761 2/ 1890 Bettendorf 211-24 554,857 2/1896 Bond etal 248-125 1,359,492 11/1920 Demuth 248--158 2,348,414 5/1944 Pierce 211-41 FOREIGN PATENTS 623,369 3 1927 France.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

K. J. WINGERT, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DISPLAY RACK FOR PANELS COMPRISING: A BASE, A ROD SLIDABLY POSITIONED IN SAID BASE TO EXTEND SAID BASE FOR STABILIZATION, A PANEL-SUPPORTING LOWER RAIL SECURED TO AND EXTENDING ACROSS SAID BASE, A VERTICAL COLUMN HAVING TELESCOPING NESTABLE MEMBERS MOUNTED ON SAID BASE WITH MEANS FOR RELEASABLY CLAMPING THE TELESCOPING MEMBERS TO A DESIRED EXTENSION, AND A PANEL-SUPPORTING UPPER RAIL SECURED TO ONE OF SAID TELESCOPING NESTABLE MEMBERS, EACH OF SAID PANEL-SUPPORTING RAILS HAVING MEANS FOR RELEASABLY SUPPORTING A PANEL. 